Switching-box



P. F. WILLIAMS.

SWITCHING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-M1918.

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

P. F. WILLIAMS.

SWITCHING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-1,1918.

1,40 1 ,02 1 Patented. De a. 20,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET a.

fizem 2%3 PaaZ Fwy/ mus UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

YAUL I. WILLIAMS, 0! CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

nssmnon. T0 e a w mac-mic menu! 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINDIBt SWITCHING-BOX.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Application filed rebruar i, 191s. sci-m1 no. 214.com

- particularly for .use in connection with underground cables.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a practical and advantageous construction of switching box.

Another object of the invention is to arrange an; effective construction by which the terminals of the switching box can be connected with one another or may be properly covered when out of use.

Another object of the invention is to arrange for the complete insulation of the various parts of the terminal and connecting device.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of a junction box embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a modified form of terminals and a connecting device therefor;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of the connecting device looking upwardly;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a modified form of connecting device;

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of details of construction, Fig. 8 of one of the parts of the device of Fig. 6, and Fig. 7 of a modification of same;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of one arrangement of circuit connections which may be used with the device.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, I show a device having a base or body member 1 and a, top or cover 2 which may be used or not as desired. The base or bod member 1 is in the form of a hollow or boxike structure having one of its sides provided with two inlets 33 for cables and an outlet 4 on the other side. A shelf or ledge 5 projects inwardly fro -the wall of the box 1,

upon which is mounted a floor 6 which is secured in place by suitable bolts or screws 7. On this floor 6 in turn are mounted a series of insulator outlets 8-8 in the form of tubes or insulating material extending above and below the floor 6. In each one 0 these insulators 8 there is a metallic terminal 9 having its lower end provided with a socket portion 10 in which the end of a cable strand is inserted and connected. This metal terminal 9 extends up beyond the open up- Patented Dec. 20, 192 1.

per end of the outlet 8 and is held in position by washers or collars 11 screw threaded upon a threaded portion 12 of said member 9. On the upper end of this post- 9 there is mounted a contact clip 13 held in position by a nut 14, said clip 13 having doubled back ends 15 as contact 'members- Mounted upon each outlet 8 is an insulating cap or hoodlfi which fits over the end of the outlet 8 and also over the spring clip 13. This cap or hood 16 is prov'ded with a metal contact 18 adaptedto fi in between the spring members 15 and make contact with the same. These cotiperating contact members 15 and 18 serve to support the hood l6 and hold it in position. It will also be seen that the hood 16 has a. chamber 16 preferably of'such size that the hood does not come in contact with thecontact clip 13 nor with the insulating outlet 8. The cap or hood 16 is of such length as to cover two outlets 8, as best shown in Fig. 2. Accordingly, the metal contact of clip 18 is adapted to extend between outlets 8 and to fit into the metal clips 13 thereof. Thus connection may he made between any two adjacent outlets 8 by putting a hood 16 over such outlets so that the contact 18 makes connection with the two clips outlet covers 20 and others not covered at all. Between the several rows of outlets 8 upright walls 21 are preferably provided, separating several rows of outlets from one two adjacent another and thereby preventing impromr 7 connection of cable conductors, it being posnecte which may be used with-the box.

sible to connect only outlets in' the same row with one another. These walls also prevent arcin "between the various outlets. y

In igs. 3, 4 and 5 I show a modified form of connecting hood 16, in which there are wire strands 23, connecting rods 24 fitted loosely in the hood 16 so that a certain amount of play is permitted to said members 24 allowing them to accommodate them-. selves to irregularities in position and adustment of the metallic socketmembers 25. [he plug members 24 are held in position by means of a plate 26 to which they are .straps29 fit between and against the spring ends 15 of the clip'13.' The member 28 has a loose connection with the hood 16 so that the straps 29 may adjust themselves to the two members which they are to connect.

The members 29 are secured to the mem ber 28 by means'of screws 31. v

In Fig. 7 I show a modified form of ar-. rangement for the device of Fig. 6, in which arrangement the members 29 insteadof be= ing secured b screws 31 are held in position by passing t rough slots in amember 28 simllar to the member 28.

In "Fig.9 I show a circuit arran ment arrangement one set of-feeders 33 are conwith one set of outlets, these feeders V 33 being for the localities to be Served by the box. Another set of feeders 34 runs to the opposite row of outlets, the feeders 34 being intended for use for another locality, but being tapped into the box shown. The mains 35 to serve the locality of this box are connected with the intermediate row of outlets. Thus under normalcircumstances the feeders 33 will be connected with the n this mains 35, but in case of a breakdown of the feeders 33 or for other reasons the second set of feeders 34 may be temporarily con;

,nected with the mains 35' by the connecting devices.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departin from the spirit of the invention.

hat I claim is:

1. A switching box provided with upstanding outlets and caps for connecting said outlets, said outlets and caps being provided with loose cooperatin which adjustment may be ma is'fitted to a pair of outlets.

2. A switching box having a series of outlets'arrangedin rows, connecting devices for connecting said outlets with one another and walls between rows of connecting devices whereby outlets in the same row may be connected but outlets in one row may not be connected with outlets in another row.

contacts bye when a-cap and cage for connecting the same, said outlets an caps being providedwith co6perating contact devices consisting of two parts, one part attached to each outlet and the other art attached to the cap, the art attached to the "outlets oonsistlng 0 spring clips forming spring jaws andthe part at tached to the cap COIlSlStillg of .an elongated metallic member adapted to .fit into the sprin jaws of two. adjacent outlets.

4. n a switching box, upstanding outlets and caps for connecting the same, said outlets and caps being provided with cooperating contact devices consisting of two parts, one part attached to each outlet and the other part attached to the cap, the part attached to the outlets consistlng of spring clips forming spring jaws and the part attached to the cap conslsting'of an elongated metallic member adapted to fit in to the spring jawsof. two adjacent outlets,- said elongated metallicmember being loosely mounted on said cap.

my name this 26th day of December, A. D. 1917.

AUL F. WILLIAMS. 

